Technically Speaking: The Best Bang
by Shaquita Murphy

The Best Bang for your B-School Budget, Technically Speaking

Part I. What Should You Consider

For months, I’ve been researching computers in an attempt to become prepared for b-school. I’m a bit of a computer addict- I find myself at my computer during most of my day. Hopefully, I’ll get a life in school but that’s a topic for another day. However, I realize how important a purchase this is and the extensive amount of thought and research that should be devoted to it.

Know what you need. One of the most costly mistakes you can make is spending your money on a PC that will not meet your business school needs. The first step in researching your computer purchase is to check into your MBA Program’s computing requirements. While some schools only specify that you should have a computer with Microsoft Office Basic which includes Word, Excel, and Outlook (be aware that this does include Powerpoint), others are very specific about the brands and models that they expect each student to have. Kellogg is one such program that requires MBA students to purchase a specific laptop that comes preloaded with software. Also, if you’re purchasing a wireless card, be sure that you get the right specification for your school’s wireless network. 802.11b is standard, but a 802.11g card is backwards-compatible to the 802.11b network. Warning for Mac lovers: not every b-school supports them. Fuqua is one such example.

Know what you don’t need. Assess what the purpose of your PC is. I doubt any of us will have time to play Starcraft while we are in business school. And we probably will not be building huge databases on our machines. You won’t need 1 GB of memory or 120GB hard drive – save your money. Not every upgrade recommended is required.

Side Effects. Even in the Tech World, it’s give and take. Consider the Pentium 4 Processor. It’s a little faster than the M, and of course, a little more expensive. But the Pentium 4 will also drain your battery quicker. Do you really want a battery that will run out before class is over? Only give up what you won’t miss.

Take advantage of your discounts. Most universities partner with hardware and software manufacturers to provide sizable discounts to students. While visiting schools, take some time to stop by the campus bookstore and check out prices. Also, check with your current employer before you resign to find out if your company has discounts on PCs and PDAs.

Don’t let Marketing get you. I’ll admit that I’m guilty of this. For the past several months, I’ve frequented the Dell site daily. The company runs an ad during almost every commercial break, but on every notebook review that I’ve read, I find any mention of their products to be scarce. I have to say that those marketing people are damn good at what they do. Be sure that you’re buying the best laptop for your needs and not the laptop whose company has done the best marketing.

Part II. The Big 3

I’ll admit- I’m having a difficult time following my own advice. For months, I’ve been set on the Dell 600M, but the reviews have not been the greatest. But it’s ultralight (less than 5 pounds) yet sturdy, but performance is not ranked that high- but we all know rankings are not as important as fit. Below are three laptops that have been ranked the highest over the past year. Maybe one of them is your fit.

HP Pavilion Dv1000- This laptop has ranked #1 on several PC review lists during the past year. It’s lightweight (6.4 pounds) and, depending upon the configuration you choose, can have a battery life of four hours. This laptop has garnered special attention as a result of two features: the ability to play DVDs and MP3s without booting up and a remote control that can be stored in the PC card slot. Unfortunately, this laptop has nothing special in the area of performance, but if you’re looking for a laptop to meet your coursework and entertainment needs, this laptop is definitely worth considering.

IBM Thinkpad R51- This mainstream laptop has solid construction and reliability. But I have to be honest- this laptop has been considered an excellent business machine but its performance is below average and battery life is hit-or-miss, depending on the configuration you select. While one tester who’s R51 was configured with a 1.5 GHz Pentium M was able to get 4 hours out of the battery, another with 1.6Ghz Pentium M was only able to muster 2.56 hours. And the multimedia components are sub-par. Be mindful, however, this has never been IBM’s focus. My opinion- if you want the reliability that a ThinkPad will offer, consider a model with better functionality.

Dell Inspiron 8600- It’s bulky and expensive, but this laptop has amazing performance. I guess you really do get what you pay for. This laptop comes with Intel’s fastest processor, 1024 MB of RAM, and a battery that will last 4.5 hours. The hard drive is a little small (60GB), but you can expand it with 40GB more. And though the speakers mounted on the front do not deliver superior sound, you can purchase the laptop with a DVD+RW and volume controls mounted on the top of the keyboard. It may not be the best choice for you business school budget, but it could be one of your best investments.

So, there you have it. Hopefully, you'll find your technical fit to get the best bang for your budget.

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